Envelope having an auxiliary pocket



A ril 25, 1967 w. L. HIERSTEINER 3,315,873

ENVELOPE HAVING AN AUXILIARY POCKET Filed Oct. 14, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. [/l/a/fer A. ///'e rs fair: 6/"

BY W6? A TTOHNE Y A ril 25, 1967 w. 1.. HIERSTEINER ENVELOPE HAVING AN AUXILIARY POCKET S Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1965 IN VbN 1 UK. W's/fer L. Hiersfe mar ATTORNEY April 25, 1967 w. L.. HIERSTEINER ENVELOPE HAVING AN AUXILIARY POCKET 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 14, 1965 R m m V I 48 Wa/fer' L. Hie/s fewer" wgemww United States Patent 0 3,315,878 ENVELOPE HAVING A AUXILIARY POCKET Walter L. Hiersteiner, Mission, Kans., assignor to Tension Envelope Corporation, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 495,945 9 Claims. (Cl. 229-72) This invention relates to a window envelope having a patch of transparent material covering the window opening for exposing a mailing address on an enclosure.

When using such envelopes for an addressed enclosure which is smaller than-the minimum size of envelope required to conform to postal regulations, it is obvious that the enclosure will shift within the envelope and move the address thereon out of view through the window. This diificulty has been solved, in part, prior to the present invention, by providing such envelopes with an auxiliary pocket, substantially the size of the enclosure, which consists of a patch secured to one or the other panels of the envelope for holding the enclosure in registery with the window. But, when the window is covered by a transparency, two patches are required, one for covering the window opening and the other to provide the pocket. Consequently, such envelopes are expensive because the high production envelope making machines of today can apply only a single patch, and the envelope blanks must first be run through a separate machine to apply the first patch. The costs involved in extra handling, machine operators, and a larger investment on the part of the envelope manufacturer, increase the cost to the user. Also, the first applied patch requires time for the adhesive to set before the blanks can be run through the envelope making machine.

Another disadvantage is that the second patch often excludes the possibility of enclosing full sized letters and other enclosures without concealing the address on the smaller enclosure, or makes insertion more difficult, particularly when using automatic inserting machines.

Therefore, the principal object of the present invention is to provide'an acceptable sized window envelope which includes, as an inner part thereof, a single patch having a portion covering the window opening of the envelope and a portion cooperating with the window-covering portion in providing a pocket for containing a relatively small addressed enclosure in registry with the window, and which envelope is adapted to be produced in its entirety on any rotary envelope making machine having a single patch-applying mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide an envelope which includes front and rear panels connected along bottom and side edges and open at the other edges to provide an insert opening, with one of the panels having a Window opening, and a closure flap on one of the panels to close the insert opening, and which envelope includes as an inner part thereof a single patch having folded-over portions, with one of the patch portions bein secured in covering relation with the window opening and the other portion being secured to the first portion to provide an auxiliary pocket therebetween for containing a relatively small addressed enclosure in registry with the window, and with the said other portion of the patch cooperating with the other panel to provide a primary pocket therebetween for containing an enclosure of larger size, such as a letter or the like.

Other objects of the invention are to incorporate the invention in envelope structures having the window opening in either the front or back panel, and with the side flaps and seals therefor arranged to provide primary or main pockets having the full width of the envelope.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an envelope of this character whereby both inserts may be inserted mechanically in an automatic inserting machine.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved envelope structures, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a window envelope blank having the window opening in the back panel, and showing the adhesive applied and ready for aifixing the patch.

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the application of the patch to the blank.

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the side flaps folded and adhesive applied thereto and to one of the patch portions to seal the envelope and to provide the bottom and sides of the auxiliary pocket when the panels of the envelope are folded one over the other.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the back panel with the window opening therein and the panel of the patch fixed thereto folded over and sealed by the adhesive to complete the envelope.

FIG. 5 is a section through the completed envelope on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section taken across the width of the envelope on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4, to better illustrate the pockets therein.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an envelope blank having the window opening in the front panel, and showing side flaps on both front and back panels, turned inwardly and overlying the marginal side edges of the patch which has been afiixed to the inner face of the front panel, and showing adhesive for sealing the ends of the envelope and forming the bottom and sides of the auxiliary pocket.

FIG. 8 is a similar view of the completed envelope of FIG. 7 after the back panel has been folded over to make the seals.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged section through the completed envelope on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8, and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged transverse section on the line lit-16 of FIG. 8, the overall thickness of the envelope being enlarged to better illustrate the auxiliary and main pockets.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, and first to FIGS. 1 to 7, inclusive:

1 designates an envelope blank including a portion providing a generally rectangular front panel 2 defined in the blank by side lines of fold 3 and 4 and top and bottom lines of fold 5 and 6. Extending coextensively with the bottom fold line 6 is a generally rectangular back panel 7. Similarly extending from the side folds 3 and 4 are side flaps 3 and 9. Also extending coextensively with the fold line 5 of the front panel 2 is a closure flap to, preferably provided with a stripe of adhesive 11. In accordance with the present invention, the back panel 7 has a window opening 12 therein for exposing a mailing address on an insert when the completed envelope is to be used. Such windows are usually cove-red by a patch of transparent material that is sealed thereto surrounding the window opening. The patches for such blanks are readily applied in any conventional high speed rotary envelope making machine having a patch-applying mechanism. However, as above explained, such machines are not equipped with means for securing other patches to such blanks. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention as shown in FIG. 2, a relatively large patch 13 is used having a size substantially conforming to the size of the panels 2 and 7 to cover the window opening and provide an auxiliary pocket for containing a relatively small addressed enclosure in registry with the window opening, and without intereference of the insertion of a substantially full sized enclosure, as now to be described. In carrying out the present invention, the single patchapplying mechanism automatically cuts the patch 13 to the desired size and applies adhesive 14 to the inner face 15 of the back panel 7 of the blank. The adhesive 14 may be applied in any desired pattern to surround the window opening 12 and extend sufficiently therefrom to secure the larger patch.

The patch 13 is also of generally rectangular shape, and is preferably of a width so that side edges 16 and 17 thereof are lapped by the side flaps 8 and 9' when the side flaps are folded over, as later described. The total depth of the patch as applied to the blank 1 is such that when the patch is sealed to the inner face of the back panel (FIG. 2), an edge 18 projects beyond the edge 19 of the back panel 7, while the opposite edge 21} (FIG. 2) of the patch is located near the fold line 5. It is apparent that when the patch is applied in position over the adhesive 14, the portion of the patch overlying the inner. face of the back panel is sealed and becomes a paned 21 fixed thereto, while the remaining portion of the patch overlies the inner face 22 of the front panel to constitute a loosely positioned panel 23 (FIG. 2).

After the patch is applied, the envelope making machine effects folding of the side flaps 8 and 9 on the lines of fold 3 and 4 so that they preferably overlie the side and marginal edges 24 and 25 of the loose panel 23, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6. With continued advance of the blank in the machine, adhesive 26 and 27 is applied to the outer faces of the side flaps. Adhesive is also applied to the panel 23, preferably in the form of a transverse stripe 28 and right angular stripes 29 and 30 that are spaced apart and from the fold line 6 to define therebetween an area corresponding to the size of the insert, the adhesive stripes being arranged relatively to the window opening to retain an address on the enclosure in registry with the opening.

The envelope is completed by folding the back panel 7 on the line of fold 6 to bring sides of the back panel in sealing contact with the adhesive 26 and 27 on the side flaps 8 and 9, and the fixed panel which covers the window opening into sealing contact with the adhesive 28, 29 and 30 (FIGS. 3 and 4,) thereby completing the envelope. If desired, the adhesive on the side flaps 8 and 9 may be located and of a width to seal partly with the sides of the panel 21 and with the marginal sides of the back panel 7, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The envelope as thus formed has an auxiliary pocket 31 in registry with the window opening and a main pocket 32 positioned between the panel 23 of the patch and the inner face of the front panel 2, which pockets are best illustrated in FIGS. and 6.

Since, as above stated, the back panel 7 is of less depth than the front panel 2, the projecting portion of the fixed panel 21 of the patch and still higher portion of the panel 23 constitute the insert opening 33 for the auxiliary pocket, and the upper marginal portion of the panel 23 and the underlying portion of the front panel 2 provide therebetween the insert opening 34 for the main pocket. With this construction, the envelope is adapted to be stuffed in an automatic inserting and sealing machine, since the gripper thereof, at a stack containing addressed enclosures, may grip and lift the marginal edge of the panel 21 of the patch to open the insert opening 33 for easy insertion of the addressed enclosure into the auxiliary pocket 31. Likewise, the projecting upper margin of the panel 23 may be similarly engaged and lifted to widen the insert opening 34 for easy insertion of a full sized enclosure, such as a letter or the like, into the main pocket 32.

The insert openings 33 and 34 of the pockets are closed by folding the closure flap over the upper edges of the enclosures and sealing it to the back panel 2 above the'window 12.

It is obvious that the envelope of the form of the invention just described is equipped to retain the addressed enclosure substantially immovable therein so that the address is fixed within the window, thereby complying with the postal regulations, and also to provide a full sized pocket 32 for containing other enclosures without interference with the auxiliary pocket.

It is obvious that since the patch 13 is folded with the folding over of the back panel, the fold of the patch lies closely within the bottom fold of the envelope. Therefore, when designing an envelope for an addressed enclosure of given size, the bottom of the auxiliary pocket may be at this fold, or above by locating the adhesive stripe 28 so that the distance from the fold line 5 of the fiap substantially corresponds with the depth of the enclosure flap substantially corresponds with the depth of the enclosure. It is also obvious that the adhesive stripe on one of the side flaps may be substituted for one of the adhesive stripes 2 9 and 30 if the addressed enclosure is large enough, or if the window opening is to be located other than in the center of the envelope. Therefore, it is to be understood that the bottom of the auxiliary pocket may be the bottom fold of the envelope and that one and the other of the side connections may be utilized in closing one side of the auxiliary pocket, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The envelope of FIGS. 7 to 10, inclusive, accomplishes the same results, however, in this envelope the window opening 12 is provided in the front panel In this form of the invention, both the back panel 7 and the front panel 2 have side flaps 36 and 37 extending continuously along sides of the panels. The front panel 2 also has a closure flap 10 provided with adhesive 11. The patch 13 of transparent material in this instance is secured to the inner face of the front panel at the respective sides of the window opening by adhesive 38, so that it is sealed across the window opening 12, while the panel portion 39 of the patch which extends over the inner face of the back panel 7 is loose thereon. The patch is applied by the envelope making machine in the same manner as the patch '13 of the first described form of the invention, after which the side flaps 36 and 37 are folded over the side marginal portions of the patch 12, as shown in FIG. 7. Adhesive 40 and 41 is applied to the portions 36 of the side flaps that directly connect with the sides of the front panel 2. The adhesive stripes 42, 43 and 44 are applied onto the covering portion of the patch, as shown in FIG. 7, to form the bottom and sides of the auxiliary pocket 45. The folding of the blank is completed by folding the back panel 7 over the rear face of the front panel, which fold 6 brings the portions of the side flaps attached to the sides of the back panel 7 into sealing cont-act with the adhesives 40 and 41 on the upper portion 36 of the inturned flaps, to make a seal therewith, while the loose panel 39 is brought into sealing contact with the adhesive stripes 42, 4'3 and 44 forming the sides and bottom of the auxiliary pocket 45.

It is obvious that the completed envelope has an auxiliary pocket 45 formed between the panel portions of the transparent patch in fixed registry with the window opening 12 in the front panel 2, and that the main pocket 46 is provided between the back panel 7 and the panel formed by the loose portion 39 of the patch. This arrangement provides a complete closure of the sides of the envelope and permits insertion of a full sized enclosure in the main pocket. The addressed enclosure is indicated by the dotted lines 47 and the large enclosure by dotted lines 4 8 in FIG. 10.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. An envelope including generally rectangular front and rear panels interconnected along three of their corresponding edges, with the other edges unconnected to provide an insert opening, a single patch of material between said panels and having a fold providing folded-over panel portions, adhesive sealing one of said panel portions to one panel of the envelope and leaving the other panel portion loose from the other panel of the envelope to provide one pocket having substantially the size of the envelope and another pocket between said folded-over panel portions, each of which is accessible through the insert opening, and

a closure flap on one of the panels of the envelope extending along the insert opening for folding over the other panel for closing the insert opening and retaining the enclosures in the respective pockets, said one panel being of less depth than the other panel of the envelope and the panel portion of said patch that is secured to said one panel being of greater depth than said one panel and shorter in depth than the other panel portion of said patch to facilitate insertion of enclosures in said pockets.

2. An envelope including generally rectangular front and rear panels interconnected along three of their corresponding edges, with the other edges unconnected to provide an insert opening, one of said panels having a window opening therein,

a single patch of transparent material between said panels and having folded-over panel portions with both panel portions covering the window opening in said one panel,

adhesive sealing one of said panel portions to the panel of the envelope having the window opening and leaving the other panel portion loose from the other panel of the envelope to provide a main pocket having substantially the size of the envelope and also accessible through the insert opening for containing a substautially full sized enclosure,

adhesive interconnecting the panel portions together for providing a smaller auxiliary pocket between said panel portions of the patch also accessible through the insert opening for containing a relatively smaller enclosure with an address thereon visible through the window opening,

a closure flap on one of the panels of the envelope extending along the insert opening for folding over the other panel for closing the insert opening and retaining the enclosures in the respective pockets,

the connections at opposite ends of said insert opening being provided by side flaps fixed to said other panel and extending inwardly between the panels of the envelope and terminating short of the window opening, and

adhesive sealing said side flaps to said one panel.

3. A window envelope for containing an addressed enclosure of smaller size than the envelope in registry with the window, said envelope including generally rectangular front and rear panels interconnected along three of their edges, with the other edges unconnected to provide an insert opening,

one of said panels having a window opening therethrough,

a single patch of transparent material having a fold extending along the interconnection opposite to the insert opening for providing panel portions between said front and rear panels, with said fold of the patch lying within said interconnection and with one of the panel portions covering the window opening,

adhesive sealing said covering panel portion to the panel having the window opening to attach said patch and leave the other panel portion loose from the other panel to provide therebetween a main pocket accessible through the insert opening for containing a substantially full sized enclosure,

adhesive interconnecting the panel portions of the patch together to provide an auxiliary pocket for containing an addressed enclosure with the address thereon in registry with the window opening to serve as the mailing address of the envelope when the envelope is in use, and

a closure flap on one of the panels extending along the insert opening for folding over the other panel for retaining the enclosures in the respective pockets when the envelope is used.

4. A window envelope as described in claim 3,

in which the adhesive interconnecting the panel portions provides a relatively smaller auxiliary pocket than the main pocket for containing a smaller addressed enclosure with the address thereon in registry with the window opening.

5. An envelope as described in claim 3,

wherein said one panel having the window opening is of less depth than the other panel and the panel portion which covers the window opening is of greater depth than the said one panel but shorter in depth than the other panel portion of said patch, to facilitate insertion of the enclosures in said pockets.

6. An envelope as described in claim 3,

in which the two opposite interconnections of said panels consists of side flaps on the said other panel and which extend inwardly under the panel having the window opening, and

adhesive between the side flaps and said panel having the window opening for completing the said two interconnections.

7. An envelope as described in claim 6,

wherein the patch is of a width to partially lap the inturned side flaps so that the lapping portions of said panel portion of the patch which covers the window are sealed by said adhesives which complete said interconnections.

8. A window envelope for containing an addressed enclosure of smaller size than the envelope in registry with the window, said envelope including generally rectangular front and rear panels interconnected along one of their edges by a bottom fold,

side flaps on one of the panels and folded over to lap the other panel,

adhesive between the side flaps and the said other panel,

one of said panels having a window opening therethrough,

a single patch of transparent material having a fold extending within the bottom fold of said envelope for providing panel portions between said front and rear panels, with one of the panel portions covering the Window opening,

adhesive sealing said covering panel portion to the panel having the window to attach said patch and leave the other panel portion loose from the other panel of said envelope, to provide therebetween a main pocket for containing a substantially full sized enclosure,

adhesive interconnecting the panel portions of the the patch together to provide an auxiliary pocket in registry with the window for containing a relatively smaller addressed enclosure with the address thereon in registry with the window opening to serve as the mailing address of the envelope when the envelope is in use, and

a closure flap on one of the panels for folding over the other panel for retaining the enclosures in the respective pockets when the envelope is used.

9. An envelope including generally rectangular front and rear panels interconnected along three of their corresponding edges and with the other edges unconnected to provide an insert opening,

a single patch of material between said panels and having a fold providing folded-over panel portions,

adhesive sealing one of the said panel portions to one panel of the envelope and leaving the other panel portion loose from the other panel of the envelope to cooperate with the said other panel of the envelope to provide one pocket having substantially the size of the envelope and another pocket between said U folded-over panel portions, one of which is accessible through the insert opening,

a closure flap on one of the panels of the envelope extending along the insert opening for folding over the other panel for closing the insert opening and retaining enclosures in the respective pockets,

the two opposite interconnections of said panels consisting of side flaps on the said other panel of the envelope extending under the marginal sides of said one panel, and

adhesive between said side flaps and said one panel for completing said interconnections,

said other panel portion having side margins sealed by the last named adhesive.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Examiner. 

1. AN ENVELOPE INCLUDING GENERALLY RECTANGULAR FRONT AND REAR PANELS INTERCONNECTED ALONG THREE OF THEIR CORRESPONDING EDGES, WITH THE OTHER EDGES UNCONNECTED TO PROVIDE AN INSERT OPENING, A SINGLE PATCH OF MATERIAL BETWEEN SAID PANELS AND HAVING A FOLD PROVIDING FOLDED-OVER PANEL PORTIONS, ADHESIVE SEALING ONE OF SAID PANEL PORTIONS TO ONE PANEL OF THE ENVELOPE AND LEAVING THE OTHER PANEL PORTION LOOSE FROM THE OTHER PANEL OF THE ENVELOPE TO PROVIDE ONE POCKET HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SIZE OF THE ENVELOPE AND ANOTHER POCKET BETWEEN SAID FOLDED-OVER PANEL PORTIONS, EACH OF WHICH IS ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE INSERT OPENING, AND A CLOSURE FLAP ON ONE OF THE PANELS OF THE ENVELOPE EXTENDING ALONG THE INSERT OPENING FOR FOLDING OVER THE OTHER PANEL FOR CLOSING THE INSERT OPENING AND RETAINING THE ENCLOSURES IN THE RESPECTIVE POCKETS, SAID ONE PANEL BEING OF LESS DEPTH THAN THE OTHER PANEL OF THE ENVELOPE AND THE PANEL PORTION OF SAID PATCH THAT IS SECURED TO SAID ONE PANEL BEING OF GREATER DEPTH THAN SAID ONE PANEL AND SHORTER IN DEPTH THAN THE OTHER PANEL PORTION OF SAID PATCH TO FACILITATE INSERTION OF ENCLOSURES IN SAID POCKETS. 